10 Times WWE Tried Too Hard To Be REAL

Production value is one of the biggest factors that sets WWE apart from competitors, so it's a wonder why many of their stunts come off unrealistic and a bit hokey, much like Randy Orton setting 'The Fiend' ablaze at TLC 2020.

However, WWE will go the extra mile to make something look "real" every so often. Sometimes it goes too far.

Such was the case leading up to the 2004 Great American Bash. Paul Heyman told The Dudley Boyz "to make an impact," which they did by abducting Paul Bearer. Their actions set up a handicap match at the PPV with a rather peculiar stipulation.

Bearer was locked inside of a glass tomb. If 'The Deadman' defeated The Dudleys, his longtime manager would be buried in concrete. The twist saw 'Taker bury his mentor himself, but it wasn't nearly as shocking as to how WWE pulled off the stunt.

In an interview, Bearer revealed that the glass was real, and so was the concrete (albeit mixed with oatmeal). Upstage, he held down a button. If he ever let go, the staff would come to his rescue.

The idea was to use a septic truck to suck out the concrete. It didn't work out, and Bearer was luckily rescued after by stagehands with axes. In the end, WWE used a combination of pre-taped and live footage to pull off the bit. Still, a ring veteran's livelihood was risked for the sake of verisimilitude and shock value.